A PIONEERING US obstetrician was so inspired by the work of a UK charity based in Coventry he is attending a midwives' conference in the city.

The Erb's Palsy Group's national conference for midwives, which teaches how to avoid this emergency situation, is at Coventry Techno Centre from 9am to 3.30pm tomorrow.

Erb's Palsy is a birthing accident affecting larger babies who get stuck during birth.

It results in nerve damage affecting movement, function and feeling to the shoulder, arm and hand. It affects one baby in 1,800.

Erb's Palsy can range from partial to complete paralysis.

Dr William Zavanelli, a pioneer in the field of shoulder dystocia, who is travelling from California for the conference, pioneered a revolutionary technique known as 'the Zavanelli manoeuvre' for dealing with the emergency.

Erb's Palsy Group chairman Karen Hillyer said: "We have been holding these conferences for nine years and seen a 45 per cent decrease in the number of children being born with the condition - from one in 1,000 births to one in 1,800 births - just by teaching midwives a few simple techniques!"